‘Really poor ’ - Wolves boss Gary O’Neil slams referee for three key decisions in lacklustre loss to Man City

Gary O’Neil has criticised the referee for three key decisions which all went against his side during Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 5-1 loss to title-challengers Manchester City.

Four goals from the Premier League’s leading goalscorer Erling Haaland and a late goal from substitute Julian Alvarez secured the points and a vital goal difference boost for the Premier League champions, while Hwang Hee-chan with his 12th of the league season was able to score a consolation goal for the visitors.

Manchester City dominated the encounter from start to finish, and although O’Neil acknowledged that his side’s mistakes ultimately cost them, the manager told reporters that he was surprised by the officiating in certain moments.

The 40-year-old, who has been a vocal critic of referees at various points of the season, was forced to watch the game from the stands after recent comments he made regarding referee decisions saw him handed a one-match ban from the FA.

O’Neil’s latest comments could land him in further hot water with the governing body. The ex-Bournemouth boss described City’s first penalty on Saturday as a ‘terrible’ decision. 

While attempting to clear the ball, Rayan Ait-Nouri followed through and caught Josko Gvardiol inside the box, a split second after the Croat got his shot away. But O’Neil was taken aback by Craig Pawson’s on-field verdict.

“I have to take responsibility for the way the game unfolds. I think we made a lot of errors for the goals, unforced ones as well, which gave Manchester City some really good chances,” the Wolves boss said in his post-match press conference.

“Mistakes against this team can be punished, and they were. They punished us ruthlessly. I’ll talk about the decisions, but I’m keen to state the officials have no real part in the way the game ended up today,” he added. 

“We are fully responsible for the mistakes we made to give Manchester City such a lift. But the first penalty I thought was a really poor decision. I thought the awarding of the penalty was terrible. 

“Gvardiol probably plays as big a part in the contact as Rayan does. He has the shot and his leg is moving through and his motion creates the contract. I don’t know what Rayan is supposed to do in that moment; he can’t vanish. You don’t see them given very often when the shot has gone over the bar and there’s a coming together. It was a strange one, I thought.”

O’Neil continued to slam Pawson’s officiating , claiming he was disappointed with the time taken to award Haaland’s second penalty as he was brought down by Nelson Semedo. It took a pitchside review for the spot-kick to be awarded, something O’Neil was frustrated by.

“I thought the second penalty was a penalty but I’m surprised how they reached it. I thought on-field they would give that, but then I’m surprised that it’s overturned because there was contact from Nels but not much. 

“I was surprised it was deemed clear and obvious, but they do reach the right conclusion on that one.”

O’Neil also felt his side were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty of their own, as Wolves attempted to fight their way back into the game there was innocuous moment when the ball struck the arm of Manuel Akanji in the box, with the City defender laying on the deck at the time.

“Potential check for Akanji handball, there was not much made about that. I heard the fans appeal for it and when I saw the replay, he was on the floor and seems to punch the ball away with his hand.

“But as I say, so much for me to focus on with my own group, our mistakes and sloppy turnovers, needed to be close to perfect to get anything today and we fell short on numerous occasions.”

O’Neil has lambasted referees on several instances throughout the campaign.  He said earlier this term that VAR is ‘causing a big problem’ in the Premier League, while adding that mistakes are affecting his reputation, Wolves’ progression and ‘people's livelihoods’.

Wolves remain in 11th after the defeat at the Etihad. O’Neil’s men return to action on Saturday 11 May against Crystal Palace in the final home game at Molineux this season.

They will then end the campaign with a trip to Anfield in a fixture which marks Jurgen Klopp’s last game at the Kop.